There hasn't been a confirmed sighting of the Tasmanian tiger for 80 years, but despite widespread consensus the species is extinct, an obsessive hunt continues by some who believe the Thylacine still roams.
Wednesday marks the eight-decade anniversary of the death in Hobart of the last captive tiger, but the legend of the dog-like carnivorous marsupial lives on.
Biologist and wildlife expert Nick Mooney has heard from numerous people over the years who insist they've spotted a specimen of the striped tiger, found a paw-print or picked up a poo.
"It's possible, but it's just improbable," he told AAP.
"And as for the chances of the species continuing to exist on the mainland, it's nudging bizarre to impossible."
Grainy video footage emerged this week, purporting to show a tiger wandering through a suburban backyard in the Adelaide Hills in February.
"With witness accounts you're struck with problems of authenticity and credibility," Mr Mooney said.
"There's no scientific evidence and I've seen nothing that convinces me the animal still exists."
There was a bounty on the heads of Tasmanian tigers dating back to the 1830s and more than 2100 were paid.
The last captive tiger died on September 7, 1936 at the since-defunct Beaumaris Zoo.
Mr Mooney doubts it was the last of the species at the time, saying there was probably 50 to 100 left living in the wild until about the 1950s.
If the tiger is still alive, Mr Mooney said current conditions - including high numbers of wallabies for food and low levels of Tasmanian devils which prey on young tigers - mean numbers would be growing along with increased sightings.
Better technology also improves the chance of capturing credible footage.
"I know five or 10 people who've got 20 or 30 cameras set-up out there," Mr Mooney said.
"There's one chap in Sydney who has 50 sensor-activated cameras and a wifi system in the Tasmanian wilderness beaming back images to him."
Mike Williams, based in the NSW Blue Mountains, is a firm believer the tiger still exists and in January will make his fourth trip to Tasmania to interview eye witnesses.
